36 Dramatic Situations

Georges Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations

Georges Polti was a 19th century French writer described 36 situations that may be found in many stories, based on the list identified by Goethe who said it was originated by Italian Carlo Gozzi (1720-1806). Perhaps some of the themes and examples do betray a bias towards the stories of the day, yet they are still very useful stimuli and provide interesting examples of enduring and real human dilemmas.

Here are his 36 situations, including a discussion on each one:

Supplication

Deliverance

Vengeance of a crime

Vengeance taken for kindred upon kindred

Pursuit

Disaster

Falling prey to cruelty or misfortune

Involuntary crimes of love

Slaying of a kinsman unrecognized

Self-sacrificing for an ideal

Self-sacrifice for kindred

All sacrificed for a passion

Necessity of sacrificing loved ones

Rivalry of superior and inferior

Adultery

Crimes of love

Discovery of the dishonor of a loved one

Recovery of a lost one

Loss of loved ones

Although this has been taken as definitive by some and Polti initially said there was 'exactly 36 dramatic situations ... and therein we have all the savor of existence', he later admitted that there could be more or less than this (it all depends on your criteria for division). He also said that these aligned with 36 basic emotions, although he did not list these (and has been criticized for this).